Pakistan and Egypt condemn Houthi attacks, back Saudi Arabia

Foreign ministers Ishaq Dar and Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed solidarity with Saudi Arabia in a phone call, according to Anadolu Agency. Dar also spoke with Iran's Abbas Araghchi.

Zenga News Middle East Desk · Edited by Onur IrmakoOctober 18, 2026 · Updated 13:31 GMT · 2 min read

File photo: Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Minister for Social Welfare Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain met with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar at his office in Islamabad yesterday (Tuesday, July 14, Photo: Press Information Department / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Egypt on Sunday repeated their condemnation of attacks by Yemen's Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, according to a report by Anadolu Agency published on 18 October 2026.

Anadolu said the position was set out during a telephone call between Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty. It cited a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry as its source for the call.

Details of the call

According to Anadolu's account of the statement, the two ministers exchanged views on recent developments in the region. They condemned the Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia in strong terms, the agency reported.

The ministers also reaffirmed what the statement described as their full solidarity with the Kingdom. Anadolu said they voiced support for Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

The two officials also discussed cooperation under the R-4 framework, according to the agency. Anadolu described the grouping as made up of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. The ministers said they looked forward to the next R-4 meeting, the report said. They want it to strengthen ties between the members and help coordinate on regional issues.

Call with Iran's foreign minister

Anadolu reported a separate call between Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The agency, which used the term "top Iranian diplomat" for Araghchi, said the two discussed the evolving regional situation by telephone.

They also discussed the ongoing meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Baghdad, according to the report. Anadolu said Dar stressed the importance of continued dialogue and diplomacy in dealing with regional challenges.

What is not stated

The Anadolu report relies on the Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement. It does not say whether Egypt's government published its own account of the call.

The report does not give details of the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia that the ministers condemned. It does not say when they took place, what was targeted, or whether anyone was killed or injured. It also does not carry any response from the Houthis or from Saudi authorities. Zenga News has not independently verified the contents of the call or the statement.

Background

Anadolu's report names the R-4 as a framework linking Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. The agency did not give further information on how the grouping was formed or how often it meets. It said only that its members hope to hold another meeting.

The report also placed the Dar-Araghchi call against the backdrop of the OIC foreign ministers' meeting in Baghdad, which Anadolu described as ongoing at the time. The agency did not say what had been discussed at that meeting or whether Pakistan and Iran had agreed any joint position.